Several organizations have recently launched websites that assist in state-level legislation and policies research. NACDD is pleased to provide an overview of these databases to our membership.
If you are aware of additional resources of this nature, please send the web address to John Robitscher (john@chronicdisease.org).
CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The Chronic Disease State Policy Tracking System, developed jointly by the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, is a state-based searchable database that provides policy information for preventing and controlling diseases. This system provides a single data source for identifying and tracking selected policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The database can be used to conduct policy research and help educate public health professionals, researchers, and decision makers about state-level policies and programs to address chronic diseases. The types of policies collected include state legislation and agency regulations. Information includes bill number, bill history, year, and legislative sponsor. An abstract of the policy and its current status also is provided. As of June 2012, this database contains nutrition, physical activity, and obesity policy data. Policies related to Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention will be available in 2013.
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)
NASBE has an online collection of state school health policies that include legal codes, rules, standards, administrative orders, mandates, and resolutions, and guidance documents.
National Cancer Instituteās State Cancer Legislative Database (SCLD)
The SCLD contains more than 6,000 abstracts of enacted laws and adopted resolutions addressing cancer, genetics, health disparities, and tobacco control. The database is searchable by various fields, including state, topical keyword, and enacted or effective date of legislation.
Office on Smoking and Health, NCCDPHP
The State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System is an electronic data warehouse containing up-to-date and historical state-level data on tobacco use prevention and control. Main topics in the STATE System include: Behaviors, Demographics, Economics, Funding, Health Consequences and Costs, and Legislation.
School Nutrition Association (SNA)
The School Nutrition Association (formerlyAmerican School Food Service Association)database is searchable by state, statute name, or by choosing from 26 topics searched in the body of state school meal/child nutrition legislation.
Tobacco-Free Kids
Find information on smoke-free laws, state tobacco taxes, and prevention and cessation programs at the state and local levels.